From 2013 to 2015 Watson held the position of Conductor of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra. A Fellow of the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival, she was a major prizewinner at the 2012 Emmerich Kálmán International Operetta Conducting Competition in Budapest. Dr. Watson is the recipient of the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors, the Charles Mackerras Conducting Prize and Opera Foundation Australia’s Bayreuth Opera Award.